MSU Research Foundation Remembers Former Board Member Gary L. Seevers

The MSU Research Foundation honors the memory of former board member Gary L. Seevers, who passed away on February 1, 2025, at 87.

Gary L. Seevers (1937–2025), former MSU Research Foundation board member, economist, investor, and dedicated Michigan State University alumnus.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 6, 2025) —A distinguished economist, investor, and dedicated Michigan State University alumnus, Gary L. Seevers left an indelible mark on the MSU Research Foundation and the broader MSU community. His service on the Foundation board from 2002 to 2010 came at a pivotal time, as the organization navigated the expiration of key patents that had long supported its mission.

Seevers played an important leadership role, serving as Chair of the Executive Committee (four years), as well as on the Audit Committee (eight years), Investment Committee (eight years, including two as Chair), and Nominating Committee (four years, including three as Chair). His financial expertise and strategic foresight helped position the Foundation for long-term success, particularly through his contributions to the Investment Committee. After his board tenure, he remained actively engaged with MSU, supporting entrepreneurial ventures that commercialized university-developed technologies.

“Gary’s contributions to the MSU Research Foundation will be felt for years to come,” said David Washburn, Chief Executive Officer. “Long after his tenure on our board, he remained a friend, trusted advisor, and one of our biggest champions. We will miss his enthusiasm for all things MSU.”

A Michigan native, Seevers graduated from Jonesville High School in 1955 before earning his bachelor’s degree (1959), master’s degree (1966), and doctorate (1968) from Michigan State University. Following his graduate studies, he began his career as an MSU 4-H Extension agent, then joined the faculty at Oregon State University.

In 1970, Seevers transitioned to public service in Washington, D.C., becoming Senior Economist for Agriculture for the President’s Council of Economic Advisors. He was later appointed by President Nixon to serve on the Council of Economic Advisors, where he played a key role during a period of food inflation and economic uncertainty. Under President Ford, he served on the newly formed Commodity Futures Trading Commission, first as Commissioner and later as Acting Chairman.

Following his government service, Seevers joined Goldman Sachs in New York in 1978, where he helped establish the firm’s commodities trading business. He spent three years in Tokyo as Head of Fixed Income and Co-Chairman before retiring as a General Partner in 1994, overseeing the firm’s global futures brokerage business.

Seevers maintained deep ties to MSU, serving on the MSU Foundation Board, President’s Cabinet for the MSU capital campaign, MSU Trustees Subcommittee on Endowment Investments, and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Stakeholder Advisory Council.

His philanthropic support for the university was extensive. He established the Dr. Gary L. Seevers Scholarship for MSU Honors College students, co-founded the Gordon and Norma Guyer and Gary L. Seevers Chair in Natural Resources Conservation, and contributed to the renovation of Cook-Seevers Hall. His commitment to conservation and education extended beyond MSU, supporting organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Michigan FFA Foundation, American Agricultural Economics Association, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and Hillsdale County Community Foundation. He also supported the Jonesville Community School District baseball/softball facilities and the New York Metropolitan Opera.

Seevers cherished his family and his lifelong passion for Michigan State University. He is survived by his wife, Eiko (Naruse) Iwai, five children, twelve grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, four stepdaughters, and five step-grandchildren.